Edelman key as Patriots take care of business

Sunday

Dec 29, 2013 at 11:54 PMDec 30, 2013 at 12:49 AM

By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

FOXBORO — With the Bengals and Colts having already banked wins, the Patriots took the turf Sunday knowing they needed to follow suit if they wanted to avoid being an unwilling participant rather than a satisfied spectator on wild-card weekend.

They took care of business in workmanlike fashion, grinding and pounding out a 34-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills in a torrential rainstorm before a saturated and satisfied gathering at mostly filled Gillette Stadium.

With the regular season concluded, it's on to the playoffs for the 12-4 Patriots, who earned themselves a first-round bye and a home game in the AFC divisional round to be played at 8:15 p.m. Jan. 11.

"We essentially won a playoff game, that's how we put it this week," receiver Julian Edelman said following the Patriots' 13th consecutive home win over the Bills. "We're going to the second round of the playoffs and whoever we play it's going to be a tough game regardless, because they'll have already won a game in the playoffs.

"But it's definitely great to go out there and have the opportunity to play a home game after a bye and get one step closer to our team goal."

Individual goals are generally not a topic of discussion around here — per order of that guy with the whistle and the hoodie — but Edelman definitely had one before the start of the season.

That was to end the year having played in all 16 games for the first time in his professional career, which dates to the Patriots drafting the Kent State quarterback in the seventh round in 2009.

A succession of injuries, including a broken foot that limited him to a career-low nine games a year, was the main culprit.

Although he's dealt with a groin issue and the usual assortment of bumps and bruises this season, Edelman went wire to wire.

"I've been banged up here and there," Edelman said, the tone of his voice ensuring he wasn't understating the obvious. "So playing in 16 games is definitely a great, great accomplishment for me."

Edelman's presence on a weekly basis combined with the departures of Wes Welker (free agency), Aaron Hernandez (incarceration) and general lack of availability of Rob Gronkowski (injuries) led to his going from backup to the forefront.

He caught nine passes for 65 yards, both game-high totals, against the Bills to reach a pair of major milestones.

Edelman finished with 105 catches for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. To put those numbers in perspective, he entered this year with career totals of 69, 714 and 4.

Edelman joined Wes Welker and Troy Brown as the third member of the franchise's 100-catch club. Brown was the first to do it, in 2001, while Welker did it five times between 2007 and '12.

He also became the 10th player in team history with 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

"It's cool and everything, but you go out and play for other things — like playing in the last game of the year and winning that game," Edelman said. "We put ourselves one step closer to that. It's definitely kind of cool, just with the road — it's been a crazy road — but it's definitely been kind of cool."

Edelman averaged 10.1 yards a reception this season. His career average entering the year was 10.3.

So not much difference there with the exception of availability.

"I don't think there was every any question about Julian's skill or his toughness or his competitiveness," coach Bill Belichick said. "This is the year he's been able to stay on the field and certainly his production has paralleled his time on the field.

"He's done a good job with his opportunities. He always practices hard, plays hard, prepares well. He's always a tough guy you can count on from that standpoint and this year he's been healthy."

The Patriots are glad to have him here — now.

After having signed Danny Amendola for five years and $31 million at the start of free agency to replace Welker, the Patriots let Edelman enter the market as an unrestricted free agent.

He was there for anyone's taking for a month before returning to New England on a one-year deal that, after having met incentives, netted him $1.015 million.

While it was a time of personal uncertainty, he handled it in a professional manner.

"That's part of the game," said Edelman. "This is professional sports and a lot of other guys have been in that situation where you're coming off injury and you don't know if you're coming back or this or that.

"All you can do is worry about the things you can control and at the time it was getting healthy and getting back on the field. That's what you try to worry about."

Edelman, who brings added value as a punt returner — he came in with the fourth highest average in NFL history — and the ability, like Brown, to play defensive back in a pinch, is in line to land a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal from someone this offseason. So no worries there.

Now it's on to the second round for the productive receiver and the rest of the deserving Patriots.